Saturday, 13 September 2014

Come Fly With Me - Frank Sinatra

if you ask me Francis Albert is getting just a little

too much Blog Time!

Thought
we'd slip in a quick 'extra' Post while things are still fresh in my
mind! A day when I thought getting down to cleaning the caravan carpets
and emptying the grey waste bucket might be in order but I was soon
distracted. At the traps things remain much the same except to say that
quality and quantity were today replaced by a little colour. Bordering
on 'late' but a welcome return of the delicate and aptly named

BORDERED BEAUTY

and while shades remained Orange and Ochre

this pristine

SALLOW

made for a fine shot.

Add that to 4 varying shades of

COMMON WAINSCOT

then we left the traps with something most pleasing to the eye.

Also lurking within was this

Unidentified Larvae

which we feel sure someone will put us right about.

For some it would seem, Moth Traps are simply a waste of time

as this

CONVOLVULOUS HAWK-MOTH

was found perch on a friends bath tap yesterday morning.

GEESE

of one description or the other (Greylag or Canada) are now a daily

feature of the early morning sky-scape, likely heading for the nearest

stubble field to 'top-up'.

Not quite sure what this

COMMON BUZZARD

had lashed to its leg this morning but thought unlikely to be jesses?

So, onward to the ponds in the northern half of the property before

the chores began which, not surprisingly held a couple of

GREY WAGTAIL

Less expected was a small party of 'young'

LINNET

using all of the available facilities bathing, feeding and drinking.

Pulling up to the 5-bar gate at the North Pond this napping

WOOD PIGEON

paid scant attention to me even when I got out of the car.

Content sleeping and dusting in the little bowl it had excavated,

it eventually walked away rather that flew.

Merritown Heath

was the next 'port of call' to see if I could locate my New Charges.

After
fencing of most of the wooded areas here it was decided to graze
cattle, and as I am probably the most frequent visitor to the site was
asked, via Phil Sterling, by the farmer to keep a 'weather-eye' on the
stock. With no idea of breed or numbers I climbed the gate only to
disturb c13 Mistle Thrush and c2 Blackbirds from this

ALDER BUCKTHORN

previously feasting on the ripe and sweet black berries.

How
do I know they were 'sweet', well like the Apple Tree just 20 yards
behind me I just had to try one. If they ain't killing the Blackbirds
then they................ However, it was discovered later that they are
a serious PURGATIVE so feel glad I didn't linger or I might have been
Running! It was a movement in the trees that first caught my eye with a
first sight

have been seen. Unfortunately today the birds were of the more common variety.

RAZOR STROP FUNGUS

on

BIRCH

LONG-TAILED TIT

JAY

another

LONG-TAILED TIT

before returning for a last look at the

Irrigation Pond.

Mussing at the beauty, once again, of

GREY WAGTAIL

the silence was

SHATTERED

by a passing aircraft, so much so that before I knew it

"Up Periscope" had been ordered and all 6 foreward

Torpedo Tubes loaded!

It was recognised as a

HAWKER HUNTER

Fighter Aircraft

which was quickly followed by a second,

and as if that were not enough racket for one day, they were joined by

a single

English Electric 'CANBERRA' Light Bomber.

Phheeeeewwww!

At
the road junction between the Eco Recycling Unit and Bournemouth
International Airport (BIA), a favoured vantage point for Aircraft
Spotters, the crowd was already growing, so there was a need to
investigate. The cameraman at the Parley Pond looked a likely contender,
who informed me that additionally both the Canadian and British

LANCASTER BOMBERS

were about to land at BIA.

His reward was a lift to the best 'spotting spot' on the farm were he was

left to his own devices. For me it was Post Haste for the bund on the west

side of Harbins lawn just in time to see the 2 Bombers approaching over

2 comments:

You're telling me D, last weekend was probably as good as the Air Festival itself mainly because the Canberra was too far away to photograph. As far as the Lanc's are concerned it was a GREAT effort on the part of the Canadian's to nurse it back to health, then let us all get a look at it. Trust you are well - good to hear from you.Bagsy

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About Me

Born Beeston, Notts 1946, my family moved to Dorset 1959. Joined the Royal Navy age 15 years and 50 days serving 10 years. In frigates firstly then over 5 years in Submarines as a Seaman/Diver, reaching the dizzy heights of Leading Seaman before leaving to join the Merchant Service, working in Ocean Salvage and Harbour Tugs, passenger / cargo ships, trials vessels, etc. Qualified as Mate (Chief Officer) in 1976 and as Master (Captain) in 1978. For my final 20 years of 47 I worked in the Offshore Oil Industry initially on the drilling rig Stena Hunter, then the accommodation barge Borgland Dolphin and finally the Floating Production Platform Buchan Alpha. On the rigs I forged a number of long lasting friendships several of whom shared some of my extensive travels. Setting foot on Caymen, Bermuda, Bahamas and The Azores in March 2013 brought my countries total to 147. The best, undoubtedly, was Antarctica, followed by Australia, Mongolia, Belize, Zimbabwe, China and Madagascar, in no particular order. As for my greatest achievement in life, my 2 beautiful daughters bear witness to that. Love to all our readers, your in my thoughts. Bagsy